Editor's note: While
we follow Crother et al. (2000) and consider Hurter's spadefoot toads
(Scaphiopushurterii) to be a distinct species, they historically have
been considered a subspecies of eastern spadefoot toads (Scaphiopusholbrookii). The range of Hurter's spadefoot toads is from eastern
extensions in central Louisiana west to the Balcones Escarpment of the Edwards Plateau,
and from northern populations in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas south to the Rio
Grande (Wasserman, 1968). The Mississippi River generally separates Hurter's
spadefoot toads from eastern spadefoot toads, however, populations of eastern spadefoot
toads occur west of the Mississippi River in Arkansas and Missouri. Hurter's
spadefoot toads and eastern spadefoot toads will interbreed (Wasserman, 1957, 1958), and
because most aspects of their ecology are similar, features of their life history and
natural history are covered under the Scaphiopusholbrookii account
(Palis, this volume). There is at least one noted difference
between these species—Hurter's spadefoot toad tadpoles readily take live
invertebrate prey, including mosquito (dipteran) larvae and fairy shrimp (Anostraca;
Bragg, 1962b).

Literature references for Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species, edited by Michael Lannoo, are here.Feedback or comments about this page.